London, Ontario, Canada guitarist Michael Trudgen has been playing the guitar for twenty-five years. Just take a moment to let that sink in. Twenty-five years. That’s a quarter of a freakin’ century. He had some classes in classical guitar as well as six years of piano lessons so needless to say he’s got his stuff down.

The thing about Trudgen though is that he has always preferred his own melodies to that of others and has widely shunned covers. This is an extra special caveat which gave him confidence as he came in second place (four votes short of first as the legend goes) for a competition in his hometown which featured sixteen solo and folk acts. Oh and the other caveat is that Michael Trudgen doesn’t sing, nor does anyone else. Yep it’s just folksy acoustic guitar.

I found myself at a bit of a personal crossroads as I listened to Michael Trudgen’s eponymous debut record. I am no stranger to reviewing solo performers and I am also no stranger to reviewing instrumental bands. However electronic music producers aside I have never before reviewed something quite like this. I’ll admit I didn’t really know how to proceed, given that all twelve tracks on the record at the first few listens sort of blended together. But after a time they began to become, like cells reproducing, each of them separate entities of quiet genius and brilliance. I began to embrace the moods and marvel in the ways in which just five strings, picked in such a way could be so different.

The record’s opening track “Pots and Pans” is quick paced and intricate as a spiders web. Its tones and rhythms move the listener to the same highs and lows that any other song with lyrics and tempo would. Nothing is lost here. Without stop we then morph into the quixotic and scuffling dirge-like “Clumsy Foot” which then digresses to the slow and somber “Nothing Lost,” which has a bit of an alt country twang to it.

Later we get a bit of pop-centric airiness reminiscent of early Red House painters on “Morning Sunshine” a bit of low-fi twang on the short and sweet “EH CANADA” which then gives way to the Simon and Garfunkel-esque “The Last Run.” The album closes with the country-ish “Two by Two.”

As a man who makes a partial living as a writer I am biting the hand that feeds me in a sense to say that words are cheap. But honestly they usually are. It could be argued that some people shouldn’t be allowed to open their mouths but perhaps that’s getting off topic. The point is here is that Michael Trudgen’s debut is a virtual masters class of finger picked guitar songs.

​There are certain writers who are known as “writer’s writers,” who are known for not being so well known by the public but revered by those who are well known as the real masters of their craft. I would classify Michael Trudgen as a guitarist’s guitarist.” Anyone who really loves the craft of the guitar will admire this record, and I, who cannot play a note to save my life, am also in awe.

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Michael Trudgen is a finger style guitarist and songwriter from London Ontario Canada. He began his music journey at the age of 6, learning piano, and then transitioning to classical guitar at 14.

In his 20’s, Michael developed a fondness for finger style percussive acoustic guitar, drawing inspiration by listening to great acoustic guitarists like Don Ross, Andy McKee, and Jon Gomm. You will find some of their influences in his solo instrumental music!

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Though Michael had a few garage band’s in his teen years, he focused primarily on writing his own instrumental songs, and by 2013 he saw a posting for a rhythm guitarist, and he signed up for the band Messes & Miracles. Michael got to participate in the writing of Messes & Miracle’s song “Anna May” for their Stages Vol.1 2015 project and also went on to write and record two singles “Noises in the Dark” and “Kings of Palisades.” Shortly after these two releases, the band broke up.

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Michael and Justin Den Bok continued writing music and formed a new band, With A Fox, at the end of 2015, and produced 2 singles “Rockshow” and “Fight or Flight;” as well as an EP “Songs from the Den.” With A Fox finally made it to the stage at Rum Runners in January 2017 for their first show, and the night was a success!

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Michael won 2 hrs of recording time at Prevail Music in January 2016, by coming in second place at a local battle of the bands competition, which he performed a 45 minute set of his acoustic instrumental pieces. The competition involved 16 contestants of solo artists, trios and full bands.

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March 2016, Michael had the pleasure to work with Ian Raeburn-Gibson on Ian’s two songs “Blue Bird” and “Where I Needed to Be,” adding banjo and mandolin. Both are featured on Ian’s self titled EP.

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Outside of the With A Fox band, Michael continued his passion for instrumental guitar, and wrote a new instrumental piece “Two by Two,” and auditioned for London Arts Live in April of 2016. The audition was a success and the London Arts Council booked Michael for 2 showings a month from June to December 2016, and performed at the Wolf Performance Hall Debate Show, as part of their London Arts Live program.

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In November 2016, Michael received an Emerging Artist Endorsement by Stonebridge Guitars. A video was produced by Lilac Media Group of Michael’s song “Two by Two,” released on Facebook January 2017, and garnered 5300 views and 36 shares. Setting the tone for his first solo album, due to release in February 2017.

Guest Book

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Michael Patterson, Belmont

February 07, 2018

Mike I would still like to get a CD of your music so I can play it while I am creating.

Andrew Hooper, London Ontario

January 04, 2018

Well, ........ I don't really know where to begin? Myself also residing in London, Ontario, I know I've heard Michaels name in music circles a few times but, I honestly cannot believe that I somehow have lived in the same city, have moved in the same musician circles and somehow haven't man aged to make Michaels acquaintance either through a mutual friend or within the cities music-nightlife or something? So what Im saying is, being a guitarist myself I AM JUST PLAIN STUPIFIED as to how I have not even heard Michaels beautiful, tear jerking, six string masterpieces before now?
But at last I have found this wonderful music! Now I'll just keep hope alive that perhaps I'll bump into Michael at the axe shop or somewhere and we'll get to reach deep & put some spine tingling magical musical landacapes together for a bit!